THIS spirit bear is one of just 100 or so surviving on two islands off
British Columbia鈥擯rincess Royal and Swindle鈥攁nd a stretch of the
mainland. But the bears face a new threat following a decision by the government
of the Canadian province to allow logging within their range, say
environmentalists.
Spirit bears, or Kermode black bears, are a rare variant of the North
American black bear. About one in ten of their cubs is born white. British
Columbia is considering creating a 265 000-hectare 鈥渨ilderness park鈥� to protect
the bear. But the final decision is at least two years away, and logging in the
bears鈥� habitat is expected to go ahead next month.
Environmental groups, including the Great Bear Foundation of Bozeman,
Montana, and the Valhalla Society of British Columbia, are campaigning to have
the logging permit withdrawn.
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